Are Pringles Potato Chips?

By Marion Nestle

Photo by Siomuzzz/Flickr CC

Ah, the British. So ahead of us in so many ways. A British court has ruled that Pringles have enough potato in them to qualify as crisps
(translation: potato chips) and, therefore, are subject to a Value
Added Tax of 15%. Procter & Gamble, the maker of Pringles, argued
against the tax. Pringles, it says, are not crisps. Why? Because
their shape and packaging are "not found in nature." Tough, said the
court. Pringles are 42% potato. That's enough to qualify them as
crisps. Under the law, crisps get taxed.